Results 8,481-8,500 of 29,533 for speaker:Brendan Howlin

Parental Leave (Amendment) Bill 2015: First Stage (18 Jun 2015)

Brendan Howlin: No.

Houses of the Oireachtas (Appointments to Certain Offices) Bill 2014: Second Stage (Resumed) (18 Jun 2015)

Brendan Howlin: I had begun my reply earlier. I welcome Deputy Fleming to the House. I know that he was unavoidably delayed and that Deputy Ó Fearghaíl made the Fianna Fáil presentation. I wish to respond to the Deputies who spoke - I thank them for their contributions. As everyone who spoke has said, this is not an earth-shattering Bill. In essence, it simply seeks to ensure that the...

Houses of the Oireachtas (Appointments to Certain Offices) Bill 2014: Second Stage (18 Jun 2015)

Brendan Howlin: I want to give due regard to all the speakers and thank all the speakers. As I would like to take some time to respond, I move the adjournment of the debate.

Houses of the Oireachtas (Appointments to Certain Offices) Bill 2014: Second Stage (18 Jun 2015)

Brendan Howlin: Open competition through the Public Appointments Service.

Houses of the Oireachtas (Appointments to Certain Offices) Bill 2014: Second Stage (18 Jun 2015)

Brendan Howlin: Recommender.

Houses of the Oireachtas (Appointments to Certain Offices) Bill 2014: Order for Second Stage (18 Jun 2015)

Brendan Howlin: I move: "That Second Stage be taken now."

Houses of the Oireachtas (Appointments to Certain Offices) Bill 2014: Second Stage (18 Jun 2015)

Brendan Howlin: I move: "That the Bill be now read a Second Time." I am happy to introduce to the Dáil the Houses of the Oireachtas (Appointments to Certain Offices) Bill 2014. Members of the Houses of the Oireachtas will be aware that the Houses of the Oireachtas Commission came into being on 1 January 2004 under the terms of the Houses of the Oireachtas Commission Act of 2003. The commission is...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Procurement Contracts (18 Jun 2015)

Brendan Howlin: As the Deputy may be aware, Ireland is required to transpose a suite of three new procurement Directives. On 28 March, 2014, the European Commission published three new Directives as a collective reform of the existing EU regime for public procurement under the existing provisions of Directive 2004/17/EU - coordinating the procurement procedures of entities operating in the water, energy,...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Departmental Reports (18 Jun 2015)

Brendan Howlin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 100 to 104, inclusive, together. My Department is responsible for policy advice on the allocation of public funds across each area of Government spending and for ensuring that overall expenditure is managed in line with such allocations. However, the day-to day operations of individual Departments/Offices are the responsibility of those...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Departmental Funding (18 Jun 2015)

Brendan Howlin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 105 to 107, inclusive, together. The Ireland Wales Co-Operation Programme has a total value of approximately €100 million over the period 2014-2020. It will support projects with partners in both Ireland and Wales focussing on activities across three priority areas: cross-border innovation; adaptation of the Irish Sea and coastal communities to...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Sector Pensions (18 Jun 2015)

Brendan Howlin: Civil Service Superannuation Scheme rules provide that since 1 September 1984 all new entrant civil servants are compulsorily members of the Spouses and Children's Superannuation Scheme. The issue to which the Deputy refers is specific to those civil servants who were serving in August 1984 and who exercised their option not to join the Revised Spouses' and Children's Superannuation...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Departmental Agencies Reports (17 Jun 2015)

Brendan Howlin: The National Lottery Regulator took up office on 17 November 2014. In accordance with the terms of the National Lottery Act 2013, the Lottery Regulator has compiled draft accounts for the period during 2014 in which he was in office. These accounts have been submitted to my Department and to the Comptroller and Auditor General. Once the accounts have been audited by the Comptroller...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Procurement Contracts (17 Jun 2015)

Brendan Howlin: Public procurement is the acquisition, whether under formal contract or not, of works, supplies and services by public bodies. National rules governing public procurement must comply with the relevant EU, WTO and national legal requirements and obligations. In general under EU law, public contracts above a certain value must be advertised EU-wide and awarded to the most competitive tender...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Procurement Contracts Expenditure (17 Jun 2015)

Brendan Howlin: The main purpose of the EU public procurement regime is to open up the market and to ensure the free movement of supplies, services and works within the EU having regard to Treaty of Rome principles including transparency, proportionality and equal treatment. This is the rationale that shapes the detailed rules (Directives) governing the regime. Public procurement procedures require...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Procurement Regulations (17 Jun 2015)

Brendan Howlin: Public Procurement can be defined as the acquisition, whether under formal contract or not, of works, supplies and services by public bodies.  It ranges from the purchase of routine supplies or services to formal tendering and placing contracts for large infrastructural projects by a wide and diverse range of contracting authorities. EU directives set out advertising requirements...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Procurement Contracts Expenditure (17 Jun 2015)

Brendan Howlin: EU directives set out advertising requirements and tendering procedures for contracts above certain value thresholds that must be applied by all public bodies involved in procurement. For contracts or purchases below these threshold values, contracting authorities can contact the OGP to see if they can procure the goods or services on their behalf. Where this is not the...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Procurement Contracts (17 Jun 2015)

Brendan Howlin: Currently, public service procurement activity is carried out by many contracting authorities throughout the State ranging from small schools to hospitals to central Government Departments. Public procurement in Ireland is complex, with different levels of procurement development, capabilities and systems across the public service. To date, there have been no specific training requirements...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Procurement Contracts (17 Jun 2015)

Brendan Howlin: Under the Standards in Public Office Act 2001, civil servants are required in the performance of their duties to maintain the highest standards of probity by conducting themselves with honesty, impartiality and integrity. Specifically they are not allowed to use their official positions to benefit themselves or others with whom they have personal, family, business or other ties or seek to...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Procurement Regulations (17 Jun 2015)

Brendan Howlin: The main purpose of the EU public procurement regime is to open up the market and to ensure the free movement of supplies, services and works within the EU having regard to Treaty of Rome principles including transparency, proportionality and equal treatment. This is the rationale that shapes the detailed rules (Directives) governing the regime. The enforcement of employment and health...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Procurement Contracts (17 Jun 2015)

Brendan Howlin: The Office of Government Procurement (OGP), has developed a pilot service to address  concerns raised by suppliers most notably SMEs, in relation to possible barriers for suppliers in competing for public procurement tender opportunities, as part of the Action Plan for Jobs 2014. The pilot service known as the Tender Advisory Service (TAS) was launched on 1st February 2015 and was...